Ipswich Town 2-0 Stoke City: Terry Hunt on the Blues' win

I know I shouldn’t, but I just can’t stop myself having a sneaky look at the fledgling Championship table, to see Ipswich Town sitting at the very top.

Yes, I realise we’re only two league games in, but after so much dross and misery over the last two decades, I really think we should let ourselves enjoy this. Without getting carried away, of course.

It has been the perfect start. Before the big kick-off, what would we have taken from games against Sunderland and Stoke? I would have been very happy with four points.

It’s not as though we’ve been lucky, either. We have thoroughly deserved to beat two teams who will see themselves as play-off contenders this season.

Apart from some short spells - notably the first 20 minutes at Sunderland and also added time in that game - we have dominated both encounters, as Stoke manager Alex Neil recognised after his team’s defeat on Saturday.

Kieran McKenna keeps getting calls right for Town (Image: Ross Halls)

Some of our football has been a joy to watch. Look at the lovely move which ended with Kayden Jackson scoring the late, nerve-settling second goal against Stoke. It was a thing of great beauty, taking the ball from one end of the pitch to the other. Simply stunning.

Under Kieran McKenna, we are also getting the less glamorous but just as important parts of the game right. Remember the time when we couldn’t score from a free-kick or corner for love nor money?

McKenna has well and truly sorted that, and Luke Woolfenden provided more evidence on Saturday, climbing Kevin Beattie-like above the visitors’ defenders to score our opener. Half a dozen goals like that from both centre-backs would be ideal this season.

The best thing of all about playing at a higher level is that we are going to be entertained. We can pretty much say goodbye to those teams who would come to Portman Road to basically play anti-football.

You know, the outfits who were wasting time and feigning injury from the kick-off and then proceeded to park all 11 players in and around their own penalty area? Just about every team we see this season will be much more enterprising, and that’s good news for us. It will let us play our football.

Our smart young manager continues to impress in every way possible. He gets just about every decision spot-on.

Once again, I mentally groaned when Kayden Jackson came on to replace George Hirst. I know I wasn’t the only one.

Sub Marcus Harness played a key role in the match-sealing goal (Image: Ross Halls)

But, yet again, McKenna proved us all wrong, with Jackson scoring the all-important second goal. Fellow sub Marcus Harness also played a big part in that goal.

The manager makes a good point about how crucial the role of substitutes will be this season. There will inevitably be a lot of tight games, and introducing the right players from the bench will be vital.

On Saturday, with the benefit of hindsight, I can see why Jackson’s pace was going to be useful on the break against a Stoke team trying to push forward for the equaliser. On other occasions, different subs will be needed. He’s a smart cookie, our Kieran.

Another thing he and his coaches have got right is their approach to cup games. So often in the past, momentum has been halted by a dreadful cup defeat. I know the cups aren’t our priority, but winning becomes a habit.

Of course, no-one is getting carried away. We are one week and two games into the new league season. We have 44 games to go. But what is indisputable is that we’ve made a cracking start, and already look perfectly at home at this level.

Next up, a trip to QPR, and a reunion with Andre Dozzell, formerly of this parish, of course.

Massimo Luongo had a great game for the Blues (Image: Ross Halls)

One tiny disappointment for me this week was the announcement that Kyle Edwards is likely to be on his way. I love Edwards. He has that brilliant, x-factor unpredictability which must be a nightmare for defenders when he comes on late in games. He also looks like a big personality in the club.

But he’s obviously not going to get enough game time, and will be looking to be a starter elsewhere. Thanks, Kyle, and good luck for the future.

So, as I said at the beginning, let’s stay grounded but also allow ourselves to enjoy these good times. There have been enough dark days, for goodness sake!

So, if you’ll excuse me, I’m just off to have another long, lingering look at the Championship table...